Signal device for automobiles



0a. 11, 1932. H, KAG EYAMA 1,882,324

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Original Filed April 3. .1923

INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 1 1 1932 UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE] HOSAKU KAGEYAMA, OF LOS'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA;.FRANK BRYSON, PUBLIC..ADMIN-' ISTRATOR, ADMINISTRATOR 0F SAID HOSAKU KAGEYAMA, DECEASED SIGNAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Original application filed April 3, 1923, Serial No. 629352. Divided and this application-filedSeptember 29,

1927. Serial 7 This invention relates to a signal device for automobiles for indicating the direction in which the automobile is about to turn or indicating that the automobile is about to stop or slow up, and while primarily intended for this purpose it may be adopted in any situation where information may be similarly given.

The object of the invention'is to provide a simple and intelligible indicator of this character which is operated or made visible by electric lamps.

This application is a division of the parent application, Serial Number 629,652 filed April 3rd, 1923.

The present invention relates particularly to the visible indicator disclosed in said parent application as will be made clear in the following description.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of the signal giving one of signal indications.

Figure 2 is the same front view, but giving another indication.

Figure 3 is another front view of the signal when the front door of the casing is open.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same device showing a part of the casing broken off to give an inner view of the device.

Figures 1 to 4 inclusive illustrate my signal device in which a pair of signal lamps, designated by numerals 1 and 2, are installed inside of a casing 8 having a transparent front, 4, through which light of the signal lamps is to shine. Said transparent front is made of a colored glass, upon the rear face of which are arranged minute prismatic forms to catch rays of the signal lamps giving brilliancy to the color.

Upon the front face of the glass, indicat ing signs are designed. In the present instance, the indicating signs are a combination of two arrows, and of a letter STOP, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. The arrowed area is painted dark and made opaque to the inside lights, except the letter STOP, which is left transparent. The opaque portionwhich' is shown shaded by horizontal lines in Figures 1 and 2 is slightly depressed from the The front glass is mounted on a front frame, 5, which forms a hinged door to the casing and can be opened wheneveraccess is V desired to the signal lamps Within, as shown inFigure3. I g

The signal lamps are mountedupon a concave reflector, 6, which carries a' partition, 7, dividing the space into two compartments, in each of which a respective signal lamp is located, so that-each signal lamp illuminates the respective half of the transparent front.

With this arrangement, if it be desired to indicate the turning to the right, the-signal lamp in the right compartment is operated which illuminates the right halfof the front, giving an indication shown in Fig. 1, in which the white area represents the illuminated and colored part, defining the contour of an arrow-pointing'to the right. In the same way, if the left turn is to be indicated, the lamp in the left compartment is" operated which will illuminate the other half of the front, giving an indication similar to the other, but with an arrow pointing tothe opposite direction. In each case, either half of the letter STOP has to be illuminated, but either of these fractional parts carriesno meaning, and will hardly operate to con fuse the meaning of the indication which is predominated by the arrow-head.

In case the operator desires to indicate that the automobile is about to stop, he has to operate both signal lamps simultaneously,

sign in form of a word STOP placed on said transparent front extending over both halves, an area surrounding said sign rendered opaque to give a contrast to said letter through which light my may pass, said opaque areaforming in turn a direction indicating sign in form of an arrow-head placed in each half of said front, said opaque area being in turn surrounded by a transparent border portion of said front and adapted to reveal its outline when said front is illuminated and means inside of the casing for illuminating either half or whole of said front to give various indications.

2. A signaling device comprising a casing if having a transparent front the areaof which consists of indicating halves, a lettered sign for indicating a stop placed on said transparent front partly falling in one of said.

halves and partly in the other half, an area surrounding said lettered sign having a shade of color distinguishing from said sign to give contrast to the same when said front is illuminated, said area surrounding the sign forming a'direction indicating sign with an outline of an arrow given thereto for each indicating half and meanswithin the casing for illuminating either half or whole of said front. V

3. A signaling device comprising a casing having a circular transparent front the area of which consists of semi-circular indicating halves, a lettered sign signifying a stop placed on said transparent front extending over both halves, an area surrounding said sign, rendered opaque to give a contrast to said sign through which light ray may pass, said area rendered opaque forming in turn a direction indicating sign in form of an arrow-head placed in each half of said front, the opaque area being in turn surrounded by a transparent border portion of said front and adapted to reveal its outline when said front is illuminated and two lamps inside of the casing adapted to illuminate each the respective half of the front for illuminating either half or whole of said front to give various indications. V

HOSAKU KAGEYAMA; o 

